Timer

ABSTRACT

A timing device for operating a valve assembly at a predetermined time on a given day or days. The device includes a timer dial and a pinion driven by separate gear trains from the same motor and constantly in operation. A valve assembly drive gear is connected to the pinion and rotated by it at said time through an actuator arm manipulated by the timer dial. The timer dial in addition includes means associated therewith to independently manipulate a selected portion of the valve assembly at a predetermined time on a given day or days.

United States Patent 1 Tischler [451 Jan. 2, 1973 [54] TIMER 1 [75] Inventor:

[73] Assignee:

[22] Filed:

[211 App]. No.:

Edward J. Tischler, St. Paul, Minn.

Ecodyne Corporation Aug. 2, 1971 [52] US. Cl. ..2l0/140, 137/624.2, 137/624.15, 1 74/35 [51] Int. Cl. ..B0ld 23/24 [58] Field of Search ..137/624.18, 624.2, 624.13, 137/624.15, 625.29, 599.1; 210/139, 140;

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,448,625 6/1969 Tischler .,74/3.5

Hiers ..74/3.5 Fleckenstein ..2 10/140 X Primary Examiner-Alan Cohan Attorney-Charles M. Kaplan et al.

[57] ABSTRACT A timing device for operating a valve assembly at a predetermined time on a given day or days. The

device includes a timer dial and a pinion driven by separate gear trains from the same motor and constantly in operation. A valve assembly drive gear is connected to the pinion and rotated by it at said time through an actuator arm manipulated by the timer dial. The timer dial in addition includes means associated therewith to independently manipulate a selected portion of the valve assembly at a predetermined time on a given day or days.

15 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures PAIENTEnJAn 2 ms 3. 708,068

SHEE] 2 UP 3 TIMER BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention relates in general to a timing device and more particularly to a timing device for cycling service and regeneration in a water conditioning system or the like.

Numerous timing devices have been developed for water conditioning systems and similar liquid treatment operations. Each serves, in one way or another, to cycle the manipulation of a valve assembly according to a preset schedule. During by far the greatest portion of a one week period, for example, normal service water conditioning takes place under the control of the valve assembly. At a preselected time on a given day or days the timing device automatically signals valve operating means to manipulate the valve assembly and sequentially cycle various phases of regeneration, including backwash, brining, and rinse, for example.

A timing device of the aforedescribed type is disclosed in U. S. Pat. No. 3,448,625 to Tischler, assigned to the same assignee as the present invention. The timing device disclosed in the above patent has proved to be a very reliable and inexpensive timing device. The present invention is similar in'construction to said timing device with the addition of a feature which permits the water conditioner to be scheduled for extra backwashing without regeneration.

In applications where the raw water supply contains a high iron content it has heretofore been necessary to increase the number of regeneration required per week, beyond that required to regenerate an exhausted resin bed, in order to maintain the resin bed and prevent fouling. This has been necessary to ensure the continued removal of the iron from the water. Iron causes staining of clothing and plumbing fixtures and greatly affects the taste of drinking water. The present invention permits additional scheduled backwashing to remove iron particles from the resin bed, without regeneration of the resin bed, and therefore reduces water and salt consumption.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved timing device.

It is another object to provide anew and improved timing device for controlling service and regeneration in a water conditioning system which permits the water conditioner to be scheduled for extra backwashing without regeneration.

It is still another object to provide a timing device realizing the aforementioned objects that is simple, inexpensive and reliable in operation.

The foregoing and other objects are realized in accord with the present invention by providing a timing device wherein an electric motor drives a timing dial at a prescribed constant speed through a conventional gear train. At the same time, the motor drives a pinion at another prescribed constant speed determined by a collateral and, also, conventional gear train relationship. At a selected time on a given day, the timing dial effects rotation of a valve actuator gearuntil the gear engages and meshes with the pinion, whereupon the pinion begins rotating the gear through a single revolution. The valve actuator gear is connected to a cam arrangement which manipulates the valve assembly to cycle regeneration of the system during the time required for the pinion to drive the gear through the one revolution. The cam arrangement includes a cam member selectively engageable with a cam follower member, effective to move a brine shutoff valve in the valve assembly between an open and. closed position. The brine valve is biased in the closed position and therefore prevents the brining cycle unless the cam follower member is in engagement with a specific portion of the cam member. The timing dial includes means associated therewith to automatically cause the cam follower member to disengage the cam member at a selected time on a given day. Thus, by independantly controlling the operation of the'brine valve the present invention selectively permits backwashing without regeneration.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The invention, both as to its organization and method of operation, taken with further objects and advantages thereof, will be understood by reference to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is an exploded view of the timing device embodying features of the present invention,

FIG. 2 is a front elevation of the timing device;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the timing device of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line 44 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged elevation of a rear portion of the timing dial;

FIG. 6 is a front elevational view of the cam member and cam follower member for operating the brining valve illustrated in conjunction with a schematic representation of a portion of the water conditioning system; and

FIG. 7 is a side elevational view of the cam member and cam follower member shown in FIG. 6.

DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to the drawings, and particularly to FIGS. 1-3, a timing device embodying features of the present invention is seen generally at 10. The timing device 10 is adapted to manipulate a valve assembly for a water conditioning system of the type disclosed in US. Pat. No. 3,563,274 to Tischler, assigned to the same assignee as the present invention, through a multiple cam operator shaft 11. Since only a small portion of the valve assembly and the multiple cam arrange ment form a part of the invention, they are not herein illustrated or described in detail. Suffice it to say that as the shaft 11 rotates at the instance of the timing device 10, the multiple cam arrangement is effective to manipulate the aforementioned valve assembly to cycle service and regeneration in a water conditioning system.

The timing device 10 is preset to operate the cam arrangement at a selected time on a given day or days to initiate and cycle regeneration of the conventional resin bed in the treatment system. During normal operation of the system, the water is being treated to remove hardness including ions over 24 hours a day, on the great majority of the days in a week. Once a day or on selected days, the timing device 10 initiates and continues rotation of its cam operator :shaft 11 for a period of approximately 1 hour, during which period the aforementioned cam arrangement manipulates the valve assembly through various regeneration cycles, including backwash, brining and rinse cycles for example.

The timing device includes a generally rectangular gear box mounted on top of the aforementioned valve assembly (not shown) in upright relationship. The gear box 20 includes a back plate 21 and a front plate 31 spaced by a molded plastic body 22. The plastic body 22 not only acts as a spacer and a housing for conventional gear means but also provides built-in plastic bearings for gear shafts. Mounted on the back plate 21 of the gear box 20 is a conventional electric motor 25. The motor 25 is a 60-cycle, synchronous electric motor which turns its output pinion 26 at a constant speed of one revolution every 5 minutes. The motor 25 acts as a timing element to time the service and regeneration cycles, and as a prime mover for driving the cam operator shaft 11 to manipulate the valve assembly of the water conditioning system.

The pinion 26 of the motor 25 extends into the gear box 20 where it meshes with two gear trains, neither of which is shown because each is conventional. One of the gear trains in the gear box 20 is effective to transmit rotation to a time shaft 30 extending from the front plate 31 of the housing 20. The other gear train is effective to transmit rotation to a valve actuator pinion 35 also extending from the front plate 31 of the housing 20.

As has been pointed out, the motor 25 is effective to drive its output pinion 26 at a constant speed of one revolution every 5 minutes. The conventional gear train within the gear box 20 which connects the pinion 26 to the timer shaft 30 reduces the rate of rotation of the shaft 30 to one complete clockwise rotation every 168 hours. The 168 hour period is significant to the timing function of the device 10, of course, and can be divided into seven 24-hour segments, or 7 days. This relationship will hereinafter be discussed in detail. With minor gear changes, a 6-day 144 hour cycle can also be arranged. The shaft 30, including an enlarged inner section 40, rotates in a plastic ring bearing 41 seated in the face plate 31 of the gear housing 20.

The motor 25, through the aforementioned second gear train, rotates the valve actuator pinion 35 in a counterclockwise direction at a constant speed of one revolution every fifteen minutes. The significance of the rate of revolution of the pinion 35 will also hereinafter be discussed. The pinion 35 is, as will be noted, rotatable in a plastic ring bearing 44 seated in the face plate 31 of the gear housing 20.

Also mounted on the face plate 31 of the gear housing 20 is a regeneration timer gear assembly 50. The regeneration timer gear assembly is fixed to a shaft 51 rotatable in a plastic ring bearing 52 seated in the face plate 31. The shaft 51 extends through the front face plate 31 and the back face plate 21, where it is seated for rotation in a corresponding ring bearing (not shown). The rear end 55 of the shaft 51 is seated in an appropriately formed seat in the front end 56 of the cam operator shaft 11 so that the cam operator shaft 1 l is rotated by the shaft 51 when the shaft 51 is rotated.

The gear assembly 50 includes a cast-metal gear 57 having gear teeth 58 formed around approximately 340 of its periphery. Referring specifically to FIG. 2, the remaining 20 of the periphery are cut out, as at 59.

A flange 60 is formed around the periphery of the outer face of the gear and the teeth 58 extend out onto the flange 60, as will be noted. At one side 61 of the cutout 59, the teeth 58 and the flange 60 terminate coincidentally. At the other side 62 of the cut-out however, the flange 60 and the portion of the teeth 58 carried thereby terminate approximately 10 short of the side 62, as at 63. The significance of this relationship will hereinafter be discussed.

The diameter of the gear 57 and the position of the shaft 51 are such that the teeth 58 mesh with the pinion 35 when the cut-out 59 is not radially aligned with the pinion. As such, the continuously rotating pinion 35 is effective to rotate the gear 57 in a clockwise direction until the side 61 of the cut-out 59 is reached. At this point, the pinion 35 continues to rotate while the gear 57 stops rotating. This constitutes the end of a regeneration period signalled by the timing device 10.

During normal service treatment of water by the conditioning system, the pinion gear 35 is positioned opposite the cut-out 59 of the gear 47. In order to initiate regeneration, it is necessary for the pinion gear 35 to mesh once again with the peripheral teeth 58 on the gear 57, and rotate the cam operator shaft 11 through one revolution.

Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2, a timer dial assembly is mounted on the timer shaft 30. The timer dial assembly 70 comprises a molded plastic disc 74 seatedon the non-threaded section 75 of the shaft 30 and against its enlarged section 40. Threaded onto the threaded end section 77 of the shaft 30 in front of the disc 74 is a locking cap 78. The locking cap 78 is adapted to be threaded into engagement with the flat, circular face section 79 in the center of the disc 74 to fix the disc for rotation with the shaft 30 in a clockwise direction.

Mounted in the disc 70 on axes parallel to the shaft 30 in spaced relationship adjacent the periphery of the disc are seven day set" pins 85. Each day set pin extends through a corresponding aperture 86 in the disc 74 and is slidable in its aperture between an in" position and an out position. When a pin 85 is in its in position, it extends approximately 16 inch outwardly of the back of the disc 74. In contrast, when a pin is in its out position, it is retracted completely into a corresponding aperture 86 in the disc 74.

As the disc 74 is rotated by the drive motor 25, any pin 85 which is in its in position is effective, at one point in the circular path it follows, to actuate a trip arm assembly 88 mounted on the front plate 31 of the gear housing 20. The trip arm assembly 88 rotates the gear assembly 50 in a clockwise direction until the pinion gear 35 is once again engaged. The pinion gear 35 then proceeds to drive the gear assembly 50 through one revolution to cycle regeneration in the manner hereinbefore discussed.

The trip arm assembly 88 comprises. an elongated molded plastic arm 90. The arm 90 is mounted on the front plate 31 of the gear housing 20 by a mounting pin 91 fixed to the face plate and extending through an elongated slot 92 in the arm. In turn, a plastic pin 93 formed unitarily with the arm 90 extends into an identical elongated slot 94 formed in the plate. It will thus be seen that the arm 90 is transversely movable on the plate 31 to an extent limited by the length of the identical slots 92 and 94. Its movement is in a path generally tangential to the disc 74.

Normally the arm 90 is biased toward the timer dial assembly 70 by a coil spring 98 in tension between the arm 90 at 99 and the plate 31 at 100. As such, the actuator finger 101 depending from one end of the arm 90 adjacent the disc 74 is in position to be engaged by any day pin 85 which is in its in position, as the disc rotates. When the finger center 101 is engaged by an in pin 85, further rotation of the disc 74 drives the arm 90 to the right, as seen in FIG. 2. A depending lip 103 on the arm 90 then engages an abutment 105 formed on the flange 60 of the gear 57 and rotates the gear 50 in a clockwise direction.

When the gear 57 has been rotated through slightly less than 20 in a clockwise direction, the pinion 35 engages two gear teeth 110 formed on a gear segment 111 pivotally mounted on a pin 112 extending from the web 113 of the gear 57. The gear segment 111 extends into the cutout 59 in the gear 57 so that the teeth 110 effectively form a extension of the teeth 58 adjacent to the cut-out 59 in the gear at the side 62 of the cut-out. The segment 111 is normally biased into this position by a V-spring l 18 encircling the pivot pin 1 12 and having one arm seatedin a receiving slot in the segment 111, as at 119, and the other arm extending behind the shaft 51, as at 120. A protrusion 122 of the segment 111 abuts the flange 60 to stop the segment in this positron.

Because the flange 60 of the gear 57 terminates at 63 short of the side 62 of the cut-out 59, the segment 111 cam pivot in a counterclockwise direction about its mounting pin 112against the bias of the spring 118. When the gear 57 is rotated in the aforedescribed manner by the actuator arm 90, the pinion 35 first engages the teeth 110 on the segment 111. If the pinion 35 and teeth 110 do not immediately mesh, the segment 111 is forced to rotate slightly in a counterclockwise direction against the bias of the spring 118 until it can slip back into its stopped position in meshed relationship. The entire gear 57 is then forced to rotate in a clockwise direction by the pinion 35. Immediately upon passing the teeth 110, the pinion 35 engages the gear teeth 58 and the single revolution of the gear assembly 50 is effected. A single revolution takes approximately ll2 minutes, slightly more time than is required for the combined regeneration cycles.

Rotation of the gear assembly 50 rotates the cam ac tuator shaft 11 in a manner hereinbefore discussed. Regeneration is effected with it various cycles sequentially initiated by the aforementioned cam arrangement. Shortly before the gear 57 has completed one revolution, regeneration is completed. When the gear 57 has completed a revolution, its teeth 58 pass out of engagement with the pinion 35 and, although the pinion continues to rotate, rotation of the gear ceases. The timing device is now pre-set for the next regeneration.

Timing device 10, as heretofore disclosed above, is structurally substantially identical to the timing device disclosed in the Tischler U. S. Pat. No. 3,448,625. The hereinafter disclosed structural additions have been added to permit the water conditioner to be scheduled for extra backwashing without regeneration, which is particularly useful in applications where the raw water supply has a high iron contact.

Referring to FIGS. 6 and 7, a brine shutoff valve assembly 40, forming part of the main valve assembly, in-

cludes a valve pin 141 slidable in a valve bore 142 and a valve disc 143 mounted at its lower end. The valve disc 143 is adapted to seat against an annular valve seat 144 when in its up position, as seen in solid lines in FIG. 6, and is biased in that direction by a coil spring 145. During the brining cycle brine is drawn from a brine tank (not shown) in a conventional manner through a venturi arrangement and returned through passage 146 to the brine shutoff valve assembly 140. With the valve disc 143 in its down position, as seen in dotted lines in FIG. 6, brine is free to pass through the valve bore 142 into passage 147 and then into the treatment tank through passages in the main valve assembly. However, when valve disc 143 is in its up position, and seated against seat 144, brine is prevented from flowing through the venturi arrangement and valve assembly and therefore through the main valve into the treatment tank.

The cam assembly of the heretofore mentioned cam arrangement which manipulates backwash shutoff valve assembly 140 between its up and down positions is indicated generally at 150 in FIGS. 6 and 7. Cam assembly 150 comprises a cam member 152 to move between a normal position, indicated by dotted lines in FIG. 7, to an extra backwash position or disengaged position, indicated by solid lines in FIG. 7. Spring 159 biases cam 152 towards its normal position. A cam follower member 155 is provided having one end pivotally mounted to a cam assembly housing 156 by pin 157 and the other end having a cam follower portion 158 positioned to follow the cam surface of cam 152 when in its normal position. The upper end of valve pin 141 contacts the underside of cam follower 155 such that when portion 158 contacts the outer cam surface of cam 152 upon rotation thereof, member 155 pivots about pin 157 tothe position shown in doted lines in FIG. 6, and thereby moves pin 141 and valve disc 143 to its down position against the bias of spring 145. However, when can 152 is in its extra backwash position, shown by solid line in FIG. 7, the cam follower 155 does not engage with cam 152 and thus remains in its up position, indicated by solid lines in FIG. 6, and thus pin 141 and valve disc 143 remain in their up positions due to the bias of spring 145. Mounted in the disc 70 on axis parallel to the shaft 30 in spaced relationship adjacent the periphery of the disc: are a second set of seven day-set pins 160. Each day set pin 160 extends through a corresponding aperture axially elongated slot 162 in disc 74 and is selectively slidable in its slot between an in position and an out position. Attached to the inner end of each pin 160 is a member 163 having a cam surface 164 at its outer end. A pair of guides 165 are provided to guide the movement of member 163 as pin 160 is moved between its in and out positions. When pin 160 is in its in position. cam surface 164 is located within disc 70 and when pin 160 is in its out position camming surface 164 extends through an opening 166 in the side of disc 70, as best seen in FIGS. 3 and S.

As the disc 74 is rotated by the drive motor 25, any pin 160 which is in its out position is effective, at one point in the circular path it follows, to actuate a second trip arm assembly 170 mounted on the front plate 31 of the gear housing 20. The trip arm assembly 170 is effective to move cam 152 from its normal position to its extra backwash position against the bias of spring 159. Trip arm assembly 170, as best seen in FIGS. l3, includes an elongated molded plastic arm 172 mounted on a support 173 for rotation about a substantially horizontal axis, which in turn is mounted to front plate 31 by mounting pin 91. Arm 172 has a bent portion 174 at one end which extends inward towards plate 31 and is positioned relative to disc 74 such that as disc 74 rotates past portion 174 any cam surfaces 164 extending through opening 166 will be contacted thereby causing arm 172 to rotate relative to support 173. Arm 172 has a second bent portion 175 at its other end which extends downward and inward towards the center of shaft 51. The rotational movement of arm 172 being effective to move the end of bent portion 175 towards and away from shaft 51.

Referring to FIGS. 4 and 7, an actuator pin 180 is slidably received within a slightly beveled passage 182 in shaft 51 and through a hollow end portion of cam shaft 1 1. The outer end of pin 180 is positioned to contact bent portion 175 such that the movement of portion 175 is effective to move pin 180 longitudinally within passage 182. Cam 152 includes a projection 183 formed integral therewith which is slidably received within a notch 184 cut-out of the end of shaft 11 so as to permit the heretofore described movement of cam 152. The inner end of pin 180 is positioned to contact projection 183 and thereby translate the movement of arm 172 through pin 180 to move cam 152 from its normal to its extra backwash positions against the bias of spring 159.

During the service cycle of the water conditioner, spring 159 biases cam 152 towards its normal position, shown in dotted lines in FIG. 7, which in turn acts to bias pin 180 outward towards portion 175 and position portion 175 away from shaft 51. In this position cam follower 155 engages cam 152 and therefore is free to manipulate backwash shutoff valve assembly 140 between its up and down positions during the regeneration cycle. Cam follower 155 remains engaged with cam 152, and therefore permits brining during the regeneration cycle, until cam 152 is moved to its extra backwash position by the activation of trip assembly 170 by cam surface 164. Cam 152 then remains in its extra backwash position until surface 164 rotates a sufficient distance to preclude contact with portion 174 of arm 172, at which point the bias of spring 159 returns cam 152 to its normal position. Each regeneration cycle can therefore be programmed to either include, or not include, brining depending on the positioning of day pins 160.

As has been pointed out, the timing device is capable of programming regeneration for a fixed time on any given day or days. In this light, each of the day pins 85 in the timer disc represents a 24-hour period. Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2 a time and day setting plate 130 is mounted on the face of disc 74 with two mounting screws 13] extending through lost motion slots 132 in the plate. The periphery of the plate 130 is divided by suitable indicia 133 into 14 12-hour periods. An inner circle 134 of indicia on the plate 130 includes day markings, each of which encompasses two adjacent 12- hour periods, thus forming a 24-hour day. Each pin 85 is circumferentially displaced opposite the appropriate day period.

To set the timing device 10 for a selected day and time a householder, for example, need merely push in the day pin opposite the selected day. Then the screws 131 are loosened so that the plate is rotatable on the face of the disc 74 until the desired time selected for regeneration is aligned with the center of the pin 85 which has been pushed in. The screws 131 are then tightened down to fix the plate 130 to the disc 74 once more.

The next step is to loosen the cap 78 affixing the disc 74 to the shaft 30 for rotation therewith. The entire disc 74 is then rotated relative to the shaft 30 to a point where an arrow 139 on the face plate 31 of the timing device 10 is aligned with the correct time of day on the day that the setting is made. The position of the arrow 139 on the face plate 31 is dictated by the position which the in day pin must reach in its travel before it has forced the arm 90 sufficiently to the right to cause the gear assembly 50 to rotate counterclockwise and engage the pinion 35. Once the pin 85 in question passes this arrow 139, it slips off the finger 101 and the arm 90 is retracted by the spring 98.

On the days which only backwashing is required and brining can be omitted the householder need merely push the day pin opposite the selected day to its out position forcing camming surface 164 out opening 166 to actuate trip assembly 170 and thereby close backwash shutoff valve assembly 140. Thus, on days which regeneration including brining is required the householder need only push in the corresponding pin 85 and on days which regeneration without brining is required the householder must push in the corresponding day pin 85 and push out the corresponding day pin 160.

A timing device 10 has now been described which is ultimately simple in construction and has a minimum of moving parts. It is extremely reliable, relatively inexpensive to manufacture, and requires a minimum of instructions to operate.

While the embodiment described therein is at present considered to be preferred, it is understood that various modifications and improvements may be made therein, and it is intended to cover in the appended claims all such modifications and improvements as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A timing device for controlling the operation of a valve assembly, having a plurality of valves, according to a schedule; comprising a. motor means rotating timer dial means at a predetermined rate;

b. said motor means also rotating pinion means at a predetermined rate;

c. gear means adapted to be operatively connected to said valve assembly;

(1. said gear means being arranged relatively to said pinion means such that said pinion means selectively meshes with and rotates said gear means;

e. gear actuator means for causing said pinion means to mesh with said gear means;

f. first means on said timer dial means for signaling said gear actuator means to cause said pinion means to mesh with said gear means at a predetermined time or times on any given day or days;

g. valve actuator means for independently controlling at least one of said valves; and

h. second means on said timer dial means for signaling said valve actuator means so as to independently control the operation of said valve.

2. The invention of claim 1 wherein:

a. cam means operatively connect said gear means to said valve assembly so as to control the operation of said valves; and

. said valve actuator means acts on said cam means so as to independently control at least one of said valves.

3. The invention of claim 1 wherein:

a. said first means on said timer dial means being a first set of day pins seated therein and movable from a first position to a second position, the movement of one of said day pins from the first set of day pins to its first position being effective upon rotation of said timer dial means to cause said day pin to engage said gear actuator means and thereby cause said pinion means to mesh with said gear means.

4. The invention of claim 3 wherein:

a) said second means on said timer dial means being a second set of day pins seated therein and movable from a first position to a second position, the movement of one of said day pins to its first position being effective upon rotation of said timer dial means to cause said day pin to engage said valve actuator means and thereby independently control the operation of said valve.

5. The invention of claim 4 wherein:

a. cam means operatively connect said valve assembly to said gear means so as to control the operation of said valves;

b. said valve actuator means acts on said cam means so as to independently control at least one of said valves;

0. said valve actuator means includes an arm means having an actuator finger formed on one end, said actuator finger being positioned relative to said timer dial means such that contact with one of said day pins from the second set when in its first position causes movement of the other end of said arm means so as to contact and drive a pin member into position to control said independently controlled valve.

6. The invention of claim 5 wherein said indepen dently controlled valve is controlled by a cam member selectively engageable with a cam follower means associated therewith and rotatable relative thereto, said cam follower means being effective to move said valve from a closed position to an open position upon contact with a portion of said cam member, and said pin member being positioned relative to said cam member to move said cam member away from engagement with said cam follower means upon contact between a day pin from said second set with said actuator finger.

7. The invention of claim 1 wherein:

a. said gear means including a ring gear having a series of gear teeth formed on a major section of its periphery;

b. a minor section of said periphery being relieved of gear teeth;

c. said gear means being arranged relatively to said pinion means whereby said pinion means is ineffective to mesh with and rotate said gear means when said pinion. means is radially aligned with a least a portion of said minor section;

d. said gear actuator means including arm means for initially rotating said gear means to cause said gear teeth to mesh with said pinion means whereby said pinion means rotates said gear means through said major section before said gear means comes to rest once more; and

e. said first means on said timer dial means causing said arm means to initially rotate said gear means.

8. The invention of claim 4 wherein said timer dial means comprises:

a. a dial member mounted for rotation on a rotatable shaft;

b. lock means on said shaft for releasably locking said dial member to said shaft for rotation in prescribed relation to the shaft;

c. a time disc mounted for rotational movement on said dial member, said time disc having time indicia thereon with which relationship between actual time and selected regeneration time can be set; and

d. said first and second sets of day pins alternately seated about the periphery of said dial member.

9. In a water conditioning system including a valve assembly having a plurality of valves including a brine shutoff valve controlling a service water flow cycle and a regeneration cycle having at least a brining cycle and a backwash cycle, a timing device for operating the valves according to predetermined schedule to sequence normal service softening and regeneration,

including:

a. first means for controlling said valve assembly to position said valves for a regeneration cycle in cluding a brining cycle and a backwash cycle at a predetermined time or times on any given day or days; and

b. second means for independantly controlling said brine shutoff valve to selectively bypass the brining cycle during regeneration on any given day or days.

10. in a water conditioning system including a valve assembly having a plurality of valves for controlling a service water flow cycle and a regeneration cycle having at least a brining cycle and a backwash cycle, a timing device for operating the valves according to a predetermined schedule to sequence normal service softening and regeneration, comprising:

a. cam means for operating said valves between a service flow cycle position and a regeneration position;

b. motor means rotating timer dial means at a predetermined rate;

c. said motor means also rotating pinion means at a predetermined rate;

d. gear means adapted to be operatively connected to said cam means;

e. said gear means being arranged relatively to said pinion means such that said pinion means selectively meshes with and rotates said gear means;

f. gear actuator means for causing said pinion means to mesh with said gear means;

means to mesh with said gear means at a predeter-' mined time or times on any given day or days; and h. second means associated with said timer dial means to operate on said cam means so as to position said valves to bypass the brine cycle during the regeneration cycle at a predetermined time or times on any given day or days.

11. The invention of claim wherein said valve assembly includes a brine valve movable between an open position permitting the passage of brine therethrough during the regeneration cycle and a closed position preventing the passage of brine therethrough during the regeneration cycle, said cam means includes a cam member selectively engageable with a cam follower means associated therewith and rotatable relative thereto, said cam follower means being effective to move said brine valve from said closed position to said open position upon contact with a portion of said cam member, and said second means being operative upon activation to cause said cam follower means to engage said cam member.

12. The invention of claim 11 wherein said first means on said timer dial means being a first set of day pins seated therein and movable from a first position to a second position, the movement of one of said day pins from the first set of day pins to its first position being effective upon rotation of said timer dial means to cause said day pin to engage said gear actuator means and thereby cause said pinion means to mesh with said gear means.

13. The invention of claim 12 wherein said second means includes a second set of day pins seated on said timer dial means and movable from a first position to a second position, the movement of one of said day pins to its first position being effective upon rotation of said timer dial means to cause said day pin to contact an arm means which is effective to cause said cam follower means to engage said cam member.

14. The invention of claim 13 wherein said second means includes said arm means having an actuator finger formed on one end, said actuator finger being positioned relative to said timer dial means such that contact with one of said day pins from the second set when in its first position causes movement of the other end of said arm means so as to contact and drive a pin member into contact with said cam member and thereby move said cam member into position to disengage said cam follower means.

15. The invention of claim 14 wherein said cam member is biased towards a position to prevent engagement with said cam follower means.

' UNITED STATES PATENT OFFIQE t I ""CERTIFIQATEOF CQRREECH-N Patent No. 3, 708,068 Deted 1/2/73 l v t r( Edward J. Tischler It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are. hereby corrected as shown below:

In column 1, line 46 the word "enew" should be---- a .neW

In column 5, line 67 the number "40" should be 140 In column 6, line 37 the word "doted" should be dotted In column 6, line 40 the word "can" should be v-- cam Signed and sealed this 29th day of May 1973.

(SEAL) Attest: I

EDWARD M.PLBTCHER,JR. ROBERT GOTTSCHALK Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents 

1. A timing device for controlling the operation of a valve assembly, having a plurality of valves, according to a schedule; comprising : a. motor means rotating timer dial means at a predetermined rate; b. said motor means also rotating pinion means at a predetermined rate; c. gear means adapted to be operatively connected to said valve assembly; d. said gear means being arranged relatively to said pinion means such that said pinion means selectively meshes with and rotates said gear means; e. gear actuator means for causing said pinion means to mesh with said gear means; f. first means on said timer dial means for signaling said gear actuator means to cause said pinion means to mesh with said gear means at a predetermined time or times on any given day or days; g. valve actuator means for independently controlling at least one of said valves; and h. second means on said timer dial means for signaLing said valve actuator means so as to independently control the operation of said valve.
 2. The invention of claim 1 wherein: a. cam means operatively connect said gear means to said valve assembly so as to control the operation of said valves; and b. said valve actuator means acts on said cam means so as to independently control at least one of said valves.
 3. The invention of claim 1 wherein: a. said first means on said timer dial means being a first set of day pins seated therein and movable from a first position to a second position, the movement of one of said day pins from the first set of day pins to its first position being effective upon rotation of said timer dial means to cause said day pin to engage said gear actuator means and thereby cause said pinion means to mesh with said gear means.
 4. The invention of claim 3 wherein: a) said second means on said timer dial means being a second set of day pins seated therein and movable from a first position to a second position, the movement of one of said day pins to its first position being effective upon rotation of said timer dial means to cause said day pin to engage said valve actuator means and thereby independently control the operation of said valve.
 5. The invention of claim 4 wherein: a. cam means operatively connect said valve assembly to said gear means so as to control the operation of said valves; b. said valve actuator means acts on said cam means so as to independently control at least one of said valves; c. said valve actuator means includes an arm means having an actuator finger formed on one end, said actuator finger being positioned relative to said timer dial means such that contact with one of said day pins from the second set when in its first position causes movement of the other end of said arm means so as to contact and drive a pin member into position to control said independently controlled valve.
 6. The invention of claim 5 wherein said independently controlled valve is controlled by a cam member selectively engageable with a cam follower means associated therewith and rotatable relative thereto, said cam follower means being effective to move said valve from a closed position to an open position upon contact with a portion of said cam member, and said pin member being positioned relative to said cam member to move said cam member away from engagement with said cam follower means upon contact between a day pin from said second set with said actuator finger.
 7. The invention of claim 1 wherein: a. said gear means including a ring gear having a series of gear teeth formed on a major section of its periphery; b. a minor section of said periphery being relieved of gear teeth; c. said gear means being arranged relatively to said pinion means whereby said pinion means is ineffective to mesh with and rotate said gear means when said pinion means is radially aligned with a least a portion of said minor section; d. said gear actuator means including arm means for initially rotating said gear means to cause said gear teeth to mesh with said pinion means whereby said pinion means rotates said gear means through said major section before said gear means comes to rest once more; and e. said first means on said timer dial means causing said arm means to initially rotate said gear means.
 8. The invention of claim 4 wherein said timer dial means comprises: a. a dial member mounted for rotation on a rotatable shaft; b. lock means on said shaft for releasably locking said dial member to said shaft for rotation in prescribed relation to the shaft; c. a time disc mounted for rotational movement on said dial member, said time disc having time indicia thereon with which relationship between actual time and selected regeneration time can be set; and d. said first and second sets of day pins alternately seated about the periphery of said dial member.
 9. In a water conditioning system including a valve assEmbly having a plurality of valves including a brine shutoff valve controlling a service water flow cycle and a regeneration cycle having at least a brining cycle and a backwash cycle, a timing device for operating the valves according to predetermined schedule to sequence normal service softening and regeneration, including: a. first means for controlling said valve assembly to position said valves for a regeneration cycle including a brining cycle and a backwash cycle at a predetermined time or times on any given day or days; and b. second means for independantly controlling said brine shutoff valve to selectively bypass the brining cycle during regeneration on any given day or days.
 10. In a water conditioning system including a valve assembly having a plurality of valves for controlling a service water flow cycle and a regeneration cycle having at least a brining cycle and a backwash cycle, a timing device for operating the valves according to a predetermined schedule to sequence normal service softening and regeneration, comprising: a. cam means for operating said valves between a service flow cycle position and a regeneration position; b. motor means rotating timer dial means at a predetermined rate; c. said motor means also rotating pinion means at a predetermined rate; d. gear means adapted to be operatively connected to said cam means; e. said gear means being arranged relatively to said pinion means such that said pinion means selectively meshes with and rotates said gear means; f. gear actuator means for causing said pinion means to mesh with said gear means; g. first means on said timer dial means for signaling said gear actuator means to cause said pinion means to mesh with said gear means at a predetermined time or times on any given day or days; and h. second means associated with said timer dial means to operate on said cam means so as to position said valves to bypass the brine cycle during the regeneration cycle at a predetermined time or times on any given day or days.
 11. The invention of claim 10 wherein said valve assembly includes a brine valve movable between an open position permitting the passage of brine therethrough during the regeneration cycle and a closed position preventing the passage of brine therethrough during the regeneration cycle, said cam means includes a cam member selectively engageable with a cam follower means associated therewith and rotatable relative thereto, said cam follower means being effective to move said brine valve from said closed position to said open position upon contact with a portion of said cam member, and said second means being operative upon activation to cause said cam follower means to engage said cam member.
 12. The invention of claim 11 wherein said first means on said timer dial means being a first set of day pins seated therein and movable from a first position to a second position, the movement of one of said day pins from the first set of day pins to its first position being effective upon rotation of said timer dial means to cause said day pin to engage said gear actuator means and thereby cause said pinion means to mesh with said gear means.
 13. The invention of claim 12 wherein said second means includes a second set of day pins seated on said timer dial means and movable from a first position to a second position, the movement of one of said day pins to its first position being effective upon rotation of said timer dial means to cause said day pin to contact an arm means which is effective to cause said cam follower means to engage said cam member.
 14. The invention of claim 13 wherein said second means includes said arm means having an actuator finger formed on one end, said actuator finger being positioned relative to said timer dial means such that contact with one of said day pins from the second set when in its first position causes movement of the other end of said arm means so as to contact and drive a pin member into contact wiTh said cam member and thereby move said cam member into position to disengage said cam follower means.
 15. The invention of claim 14 wherein said cam member is biased towards a position to prevent engagement with said cam follower means. 